University under the notion of a Visitor The Archbishop angry at the affront fairly retreated re infecta to London King Henry at the joynt instances of both parties summoned them to Lambeth to hear and determine the Controversie where the King pronounced sentence on the Archbishop's side Afterward the King confirmed the same with the consent of the Lords and Commons in Parliament as in the Tower-Rolls doth plainly appear The King though courteous was not servile to the Pope and the Clergy terrified with the wavering doubtfulness of the King granted him a tenth every year for diverse years King Henry the fourth is not observed as all English Kings before Fuller Church Hist of Brit. and after him to have erected and endowed any one entire house of Religion as first or sole-founder thereof though a great Benefactor to the Abby of Leicester and Colledge of Fothringhay in Northamptonshire His picture is not so well known by his Head as his Hood which he weareth upon it in an odd fashion peculiar to himself He died Anno 1413. Henry the fifth his Son succeeded in the Kingdom An universal Synod of all the Bishops and Clergy was called at London where among other weighty matters it was determined That the day of St. George and also of St. Dunstan should be a double Feast in holy Church At the Petition of the Commons in Parliament to the King all Irish Rotul in Turri Lond. begging Priests called Chamberdakyns were ordered to depart the Realm by Michaelmas following upon pain of loss of goods and imprisonment during the King's pleasure In the beginning of this King's Reign arose Sir John Oldcastle who Camd. Brit. in Kent Married Joan de la Pole Baroness of Cobham the Lord whereof he became a Man saith one Regi propter probitatem charus acceptus in great favour with King Henry the fifth for his honesty and likewise renouned for his valour and great skill in feats of Armes who sent into the Diocesses of London Rochester and Hereford some to publish the truth of the Gospel without the leave and License of the Ordinaries who were especially in their Sermons to confute the Doctrine of Transubstantiation the Popish Sacrament of Penance Peregrinations worshipping of Images the Keys usurped by the Church of Rome At that time there resorted to the Synod in London twelve Inquisitors for Heresie whom they appointed at Oxford the year before to search out for Hereticks withall Wickliff's Books who brought two hundred forty six Conclusions which they had collected as Heresies out of the said Books The Names of the Inquisitors were these John Witnam a Master in New Colledge John Langdon Monk of Christ-church in Canterbury William Vfford Regent of the Carmalites Thomas Clayton Regent of the Dominicks Robert Gilbert Richard Enthisdale John Luck Richard Sindisham Richard Fleming Thomas Rotborn Robert Rouberry Richard Grafdale who all concluded that the chief favourers of Wickliff's Doctrine were to be first dealt against The Lord Cobham was complained of by the General Proctors to be the chief principal abettor of suspected Preachers contrary to the mind of the Ordinaries and to have assisted them by force of Armes The King sent for the Lord Cobham and when he was come he admonished him secretly to submit himself to his Mother the holy Church Unto whom he made this Answer You most Worthy Prince saith he I am always ready to obey forasmuch as I know you a Christian Prince and the Minister of God bearing the Sword to the punishment of evil doâ—rs and safeguard of them that do well Vnto you next unto my eternal God owe I most reverence and submit thereunto as I have done ever all that I have either of Nature or Fortune ready at all times to fulfill whatsoever You in the Lord command me But as touching the Pope and his Spiritualty I owe them neither Suit nor Service forasmuch as I know him by the Scriptures to be the Great Antichrist the Son of Perdition the open Adversary of God The King having heard this would talk no longer with him but utterly left him And the Archbishop resorting to the King he gave him authority to Cite him Examine and Punish him according to their Decrees The Archbishop Cited him to appear before him at the Castle of Leeds in Kent and because he appeared not he Excommunicated him Then the Lord Cobham wrote a draught of the Confession of his Faith and Sealed it with his own Hand in which he answered the four chiefest Articles that the Archbishop laid against him and that done he took the Copy with him and went therewith to the King who would not receive it but commanded it to be delivered to those who should be his Judges Then he desired in the King's presence that an hundred Knights and Esquires might be suffered to come as upon his Purgation which he knew would clear him of all Heresies Moreover he offered himself after the Law of Armes to fight for Life or Death with any man living Christian or Heathen in the quarrel of his Faith the King's Majesty and the Lords of his Council excepted and furthermore protested That he would obey all manner of Laws agreeable to the Word of God yet for all this the King suffered him to be summoned personally in his own Privy-chamber He appeared before the Archbishop sitting in the Chapter-house of Pauls with Richard Clifford Bishop of London Henry Bullinbrook Joh. Capgrave lib. 2. de nobilib Henriciâ— Bishop of Winchester He professed That the Pope was true Antichrist That he is his Head and that the Popish Bishops were his Members the Friars his Tayl. And as touching the other Points saith he they are Ordinances of the Church of Rome made against the Scriptures after it grew rich and the poison had dispersed it self therein and not before Another Annalist saith That he had openly said in Parliament that it would never be well in England till the Pope's power were banished beyond the Seas The Archbishop read a Bill of Condemnation against him after which Bill read the Lord Cobham said with a cheerful countenance Though you judge my Body which is but a wretched thing yet I am sure ye can do no harm to my Soul no more than Satan could do to the Soul of Job And as concerning these Articles I will stand to them to the very death by the grace of my eternal God And after a short instruction to the people he fell down upon his Knees holding up his Hands and Eyes to Heaven And prayed God to forgive his Prosecutors The Lord Cobham was condemned to dye being led back to the Tower he escaped out of the Tower and fled into Wales where he continued by the space of four years In January 1414. Sir Roger Acton Knight Mr. John Brown and John Beverley a Minister suffered Martyrdom in the Fields of St. Giles with thirty six more Some say that Sir Roger Acton was hanged naked at Tyburn saving that
in the Bishoprick In this King's Reign were diverse Learned Men in England John â—â—conthorp a Man of a very low stature of whom one saith Ingenio magnus Corpore parvus erat Baâ—â—us in ejus ritâ— His wit was Tall in Body small Coming to Rome he was hissed at in a publick Disputation for the badness forsooth of his Latin and pronunciation but indeed because he opposed the Pope's power in dispensing with Marriages contrary to the Law of God He wrote on the Sentences where he followeth the truth in many things especially he refuteth the subtilties of John Scotus as Baptist Mantuan hath marked Iste tenebrosi damnat vestigia Scoti Et per sacra novis it documenta viis Hunc habeant quibus est sapientia grata redundat Istius in sacris fontibus omne sophos He wrote De dominio Christi where he proveth that the highest Joâ— Bal◠〈◊〉 4. Swordâ— 82. Bishop in every Kingdom should be in subjection to Princes Richard Primate of Ireland alias Armachanus was his Disciple and taught the same Doctrine he Translated the Bible into Irish He discovered the hypocrisie of Friers in that though they professed poverty yet they had stately Houses like the Palaces of Princes and more costly Churches than any Cathedral richer Ornaments than all the Princes c. William Ockham an English Man sided with Lewis of Bavaria against the Pope maintaining the Temporal Power above the Spiritual He was forced to fly to the Emperor for his safety He was a Disciple of John Scotus but became Adversary of his Doctrine He was the Author of the Sect of Nominales He was a follower of Pope Nicholas the fourth and therefore was Excommunicated by Pope John This Ockham was Luther's chief School-man who had his Works at his finger's end Robert Holcot was not the meanest among them who died of the Plague at Northampton just as he was reading his Lectures on the seventh of Ecclesiasticus About that time a Book was written in English called The complaint and prayer of a Plough-man The Author of it is said to have been Robert Langland a Priest After a general complaint of the Iniquity of the time the Author wrote zealously against Auricular Confession as contrary to Scripture and prosit of the publick and as a device of man against the Simony of selling Pardons against the Pope as the Adversary of Christ He complaineth of the unmarried Priests committing wickedness and by bad example provoking others of Images in Churches as Idolatry of false Pastors which feed upon their flocks and feed them not nor suffer others to feed them He wrote also against Purgatory In this King's Reign were diverse Archbishops of Canterbury I will begin with Simon Mepham made Archbishop in the first year of his Reign John Stratford was the second Consecrated first Bishop of Winchester The third was Thomas Bradwardine Fellow of Merton Colledge in Oxford and afterwards Chancellor of London and commonly called The profound Doctor He had many disputes with the School-men against the errors of Pelagius and reduced all his Lectures into three Books which he entitled De causa Dei He was Confessor to King Edward the third He died a few Months after his Consecration Simon Islip was the fourth he founded Canterbury Colledge in Oxford This Colledge is now swallowed up in Christ-Church Simon Langham is the fifth much meriting by his Munificence to Westminster-Abbey William Witlesee succeeded him famous for freeing the University of Oxford from the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of Lincoln formerly the Diocesan thereof Simon Sudbury was the last Archbishop of Canterbury in this King's Reign In his Reign also flourished Nicholas Trivet a black Frier born in Norfolk who wrote two Histories and a Book of Annals Richard Stradley born in the Marches of Wales a Monk and a Divine who wrote diverse excellent Treatises of the Scriptures William Herbert a Welchman who wrote many good Treatises in-Divinity Thomas Wallis a Sir Rich. â—aker's Chron. Dominican Frier and a writer of many excellent Books Walter Burley a Doctor in Divinity who wrote many choise Treatises in Natural and Moral Philosophy Roger a Monk of Chester and an Historiographer John Burgh a Monk who wrote an History and also diverse Homilieâ— Richard Aungervil Bishop of Durham and Lord Chancellor of England Richard Chichester a Monk of Westminster who wrote a good Chronicle from the year 449. to the year 1348. Matthew Westminster who wrote the Book called Flores Historiarum Henry Knighton who wrote an History entitled De gestis Anglorum John Mandevil Knight Doctor of Physick a great Traveller and Sir Geoffry Chaucer the Homer of our Nation About the fortieth year of his Reign there was a Priest in England called William Wickham who was great with King Edward so that all things were done by him who was made Bishop of Winchester Towards the latter end of this King's Reign arose John Wickliff a Learned Divine of Oxford who did great service to the Church in promoting Reformation and in opposing Papal power for he wrote sharply against the Pope's authority the Church of Rome and diverse of their Religious Orders Certain Divines and Masters of the University entertained his Doctrine viz. Robert Rigges Chancellor of the University together with the two Proctors and many others He not onely Preached this Doctrine in Oxford but also more publickly in London At the Court before the King himself the Prince of Wales his Son John Duke of Lancaster the Lord Clifford the Lord Latimer and others likewise the Lord Montacute who defaced Images throughout all his Jurisdiction and John Earl of Sarum who at the point of death refused the Popish Sacrament with diverse others of the chiefest Nobility the Major of London with diverse other worthy Citizens who many times disturbed the Bishop's Officers who were called for the suppressing of Wickliff This Man being much encouraged by the Duke of Lancaster and Sir Henry Piercy Marshall went from Church to Church Preaching his Opinions and spreading his Doctrine whereupon he is cited to answer before the Archbishop the Bishop of London and others in St. Paul's London At the day appointed the Duke of Lancaster and the Lord Marshall go to conduct him there the Archbishop and Bishop declared the Judgement of the Pope concerning Wickliff's Doctrine The Archbishop sent Wickliff's Condemnation to Robert Rigges Chancellor of the University of Oxford to be divulged Rigges appointed them to Preach that day whom he knew to be the most zealous followers of Wickliff and among others he ordered one Philip Rippinton a Canon of Leicester to Preach on Corpus-Christi day who concluded his Sermon with these words For speculative Doctrine saith he such as is the Sacrament of the Altar I will set a bar on my lips while God hath otherwise instructed or illuminated the hearts of the Cleâ—â—y King Edward the third died June 21. Anno 1377. in the sixty fift year of his Age when he had Reigned
the Company haled to the next prison and the rest dispersed the Priest escaping with difficulty by a private passage the Queen being then absent in the North. In France the City and Castle of Cane besieged by the confederate forces both French and English was finally surrendred to the Admiral Chastilion to the use of the Princes After which followed the surrendry of Baieux Faleise S. Lod's and divers other Towns and Castles The Town of Harâ—flew on the Seine was gallantly taken by the help of the English of Newhaven on the tenth of March and garrisoned by such Souldiers and Inhabitants as were sent from thence These successes amazed the Guisian faction that they agreed unto an Edict of Pacification by the which the French forces were restored to the King's Favour the Hugonots to the free exercise of their own Religion But they must buy this happiness by betraying the English whom they had brought into the Countrey and joyn their forces with the rest to drive them out of New-haven if they would not yield it on demand The French closely besiege the Town and the Plague raging sore among the English they capitulate and leave the Town to the French on July the twenty ninth and carry the Plague with them into England The Pope was so incensed against Queen Elizabeth that he dispatched a commission to the Fathers of Trent to proceed to an excommunication Hist Concil 〈◊〉 of the Queen of England But the Emperour Ferdinand wrote Letters both to the Pope and to the Legates in which he signified unto them That if the Council would not yield that fruit which was desired at least they should not give occasion to the Hereticks to unite themselves more which certainly they would do in case they proceeded so against the Queen of England by means whereof they would undoubtedly make a league against the Catholicks Hereupon the Pope desisted at Rome and revoked his Commission sent before to the Legates at Trent The Plague brought out of France by the Garrison Souldiers of New-haven had so dispersed it self and made such desolation in many parts of England that it swept away above twenty thousand of the City of London which was the greatest at that time which any man living could remember Soon after this the Queen makes peace with France Then the Queen went in progress to take the pleasures of the Countrey and visited the University of Cambridge where being with all kinds of honour received by the Students and delighted with Comedies Tragedies and Scholastical disputations she survayed every Colledge and in a Latine Oration takes her leave of Cambridge giving them encouragement to pursue their Studies The English Bishops being impowered by their Canons began to shew their Authority in urging the Clergy of their Diocesses to subscribe to the Liturgy Rites and discipline of the Church and such as refused the same were branded with the name of Puritans The Non-conformists in this Age were divided into two Ranks some mild and moderate contented onely to enjoy their own conscience Others fierce and fiery to the diâ—turbance of Church and State saith Fuller Among the former was Father John Fox for so Queen Elizabeth termed him summoned to subscribe by Archbishop Parker The old man produced the New Testament in Greek To this saith he will I subscribe But when a subscription to the Canons was subscribed of him he refused it saying I have nothing in the Church save a Prebend at Salisbury and much good may it do you if you will take it away from me However such respect did the Bishops most formerly his fellow-exiles bear to his Age parts and pains that he continued his place till the day of his death With Mr. Fox we may joyn his dear friend Laurence Humfery who was Regius Profâ—ssor of Divinity in Oxford But such was his quiet carriage that notwithstanding his non-subscribing he kept his Professors place and Deanery of Winchester as long as he lived A second sort of Non-conformists were fierce sticklers against Church-discipline we will begin with Anthony Gilby bred in Christ's Colledge in Cambridge His fierceness against the Ceremonies â—ake from his own pen They are saith he known Liveries of Anâ—â—christ accursed leaven of the blasphemous popish Priest-hood cursed patches of Popery and Idolatry c. William Whittingham succeeds who after his return from his exile in Germany was made Dean of Durham Christopher Goodman is the third who wrote a book stuffed with much dangerous Doctrine wherein he maintained that Sir Thomas Wait was no Traitor that his cause was God's c. These three saith Mr. Fuller were the Antesignani of the fierce Non-conformists for David Whitehead is not mentioned with them Yet find we none of them silenced Onely we meet with Thomas Sampson Dean of Christ-church in Oxford who was displaced out of his Deanery for his Non-conformity This Deanery was then conferred on Dr. Thomas Godwin Chaplain in Ordinary to the Queen who was after advanced to the Bishoprick of Bath and Wells who was Father to Francis Godwin late Bishop of Landaff the Author of the Catalogue of the English Bishops Bullinger and Gualter two Divines of Switzerland men eminent in all points of Learning being sollicited by some zealous brethren to signifie their judgement in the present controversie about the Habit of the Clergy return an approbation of it but send the same enclosed to Sandy's Horn and Grindal Now the Queen thought fit to make a further signification of Her Royal Pleasure legally declared by Her Commissioners for causes Ecclesiastical according to the Acts and Statutes made in that behalf The Archbishop is thereupon required to consult together with such Bishops and Commissioners as were next at hand upon the making of such Rules and Oâ—ders as they thought necessary for the peace of the Church with reference to the present estate thereof Which being accordingly performed presented to the Queen and by her approved the said Rules and Orders were set forth and published in a certain Book Entitled Advertisements partly for due Order in the publick Administration of the Common-prayers and using the holy Sacraments and partly for the Apparel of all Persons Ecclesiastical by vertue of the Queen's Majestie 's Letters Commanding the same January fifteenth c. In this year 1564. died the Emperour Ferdinand and Mr. John Calvin What Peter Lombard was esteemed to be in the Schools at Rome the same was Calvin reckoned to be in all those Churches which were Reformed according to the Zuinglian Doctrine in the point of the Sacrament Yet the Royal and Prelatical Divines conceived otherwise Hâ—yâ—in's Hist of Q. 〈◊〉 of him saith Dr. Heylin and the learned Adrian Seravia though by birth a Dutchâ—an Yet being once preferred in the Church of England could not endure to be called Calvinian About the middle of February the Lord Darly came to the Court of Scotland who being not fully twenty years old of lovely person sweet behaviour and a most
THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF Great Britain FROM THE Birth of our SAVIOUR untill the Year of our LORD 1667. With an exact Succession of the Bishops and the memorable Acts of many of them TOGETHER With an Addition of all the English Cardinals and the several Orders of English Monks Friars and Nuns in former Ages Historia vitae nostrae Magistra Bodin LONDON Printed for Philip Chetwin and to be Sold by most Book-sellers 1674. Honoratissimis D no. HENRICO TVLSE Aequiti Aurato Senatori Vicecomiti Londonensi JACOBO READING PETRO RICH. RICâ—ARDO HOW JOHANNI SHORTER In Agro Surriensi Armigeris Viris summi Candoris Pietatis ac Literarum fautoribus hunc Librum in perpetuum observantiae Testimonium D. D. D. G. G. TO THE READER THere is no greater Priviledge bestowed by the Lord upon one Nation above others than in the free use of the Sacred Scriptures and Ordinances Israel had much advantage above the Gentiles chiefly or principally because unto them were committed the Oracles of God the word of grace the Covenant of life and peace Rom. 3. 2. S. Paul els-where reckoning up the Priviledges of Israel mentioneth this in several expressions as a prime Priviledge The Covenants the giving of the Law and the Promises Rom. 9. 4. all which are comprehended under the Oracles and word of God So saith the Psalmist Psal 147. 19 20. He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgements unto Israel he hath not dealt so with any nation and as for his judgements they have not known them He make's no mention of the Tabernacle or Temple the Ark of the Covenant the altar of burnt-offering the golden altar of incense the Ordinance of Circumcision c. though in these they were priviledged above other Nations but he singleth out this as a prime priviledge that he shewed them his word his statutes and judgements How deeply then is this nation of ours even England indebted to God to whom the Lord hath committed his holy Oracles how much are we bound to him for this unspeakable gift And herein the singular goodness of God to this nation is much to be observed not enely in visiting it with the Gospel for these last hundred years and more but also in giving it the light of the Gospel very early even in the Apostles dayes Divers Writers of good credit do testifie that even in those dayes the Britan's in our Isle did consent to Christian Religion and pulickly professed it in their Churches as well as other parts of the World The Authors of the Theatre of Great Britain speaking of Theatr. Magn. Brit. the Antiquity of the Christian Faith in Britain testifie in this manner As we have searched the first foundation of our Faith so neither want we Testimonies concerning the continuance of the same in this Land until following Posterities although the injury of Time and War have consumed many Records for the Britan's that were daily strengthened in their received Faith by the Doctrine of many Learned and godly Men left not their First-love with the Church of Ephesus but rather took hold of the Skirts as the Prophet speaketh Zech. 8. 23. until the Tortures of Martyrdom cut them off by death And those Fathers even from the Disciples themselves held a Succession in Doctrine notwithstanding some Repugnancy was made by the Pagans and Preached the Gospel with good success even till the same at length went forth with a bolder countenance by the favourable Edicts of Adrian Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius Euseb Eccl. Hist l. 4. c. 9. Emperours of Rome as Eusebius hath Noted and in Britain was established by King Lucius so called as some Learned Men have observed because a Prince of great lustre and glory the Light of the Gospel breaking forth in this our Isle in such a perspicuoâ—s manner by his Conversion that all Christian Churches took notice thereof Of whom a great Antiquary thus speaketh Lucius in Christum credit Christoque dicatas Vsserius de Brit. Eccles Primord P. 56. Ecclesias dotat distinctas ordinat urbes Geoffery of Monmouth tells us that King Lucius being Baptized together with his Subjects destroyed the Temples of Idols and Dedicated them to the onely living God enlargeing and augmenting them Bishop Godwin saith we have Godwin de de convers Britan. great cause with all thankfulness to Celebrate the Memory of that Excellent Prince King Lucius by whom God did not onely bless this Land with so clear knowledge of the truth but in such sort did it as thereby He hath purchased unto the same the Title of Primogenita Ecclesiae the most Antient and first begotten of all the Churches in the world for that although Christ was Preached els-where privately in many other Nations long before the time of King Lucius yet of all Nations Britain was the first that with publick approbation of Prince and State received the Profession of Christian Religion Of the Teachers of those times John Bale hath these verses Sic ut erat Celebris c. As were the Britan's famous for their Zeal To Gentile Gods whilst such they did adore So when the Heavens to Earth did Truth reveal Blest was that Land with Truth and Learnings store Whence British Plains and Cambreas desart-ground And Cornwal's Crags with glorious Saints abound The common consent of our Protestant Writers is that in this time I now speak of and from the beginning of Christianity here Britain never wanted Preachers of the true Faith And when the persecuting Emperour 's Reigned and persecution raged not onely in the Eastern parts but in Italy France and other Countreys in the Continent near unto us this our Island as another world was almost quite free thereof both before and after until the nineteenth year of Dioclesian in which there was a general persecution of Christians as Gildas and others after him do witness in that it Gild. lib. de excid Conqu Brâ—tan ever had Kings not so depending on the persecuting Emperours and so far from the Name and Nature of persecutors that they ever were friends and favourers of Christians And for this cause many that were persecuted for Christianity in other Countries fled hither for refuge where for themselves they might more quietly enjoy the Liberty of their Conscience and Religion and for others desirous to be instructed in the Truth thereof and not kept back with such terrours of persecution as in other Countries they might with more confidence and boldness and with great hope of fruit and encrease Preach and Teach it unto them This was a preparative to a more general Conversion of this Nation to Christianity which followed afterwards This Island was also the more quiet in respect of the situation remote distance and separation from the rest of the chief commanding places of the Roman Empire The Name England some derived from the manner of the situation of this Island in the West and North for that Eng in the Antient
Colony of London which some count Colchester and others Maldon in Essex Sacerdos a Priest both by his proper Name and Office Arminius a Deacon Anno 313. In the Synod of Nice held in Bithynia Anno 325. British Bishops were present being summoned to suppress Arianism and to establish an uniformity of the observation of Easter as Athanasius and Hilary Bishop of Poictiers do testify At the Council of Sardis in Thracia called by Constantius and Constans Sons to Constantine the Great were present the Bishops of Britain who concurred with the rest to condemn the Arrians and acquit Athanasius The British Bishops were also present at the Council of Ariminum assembled in Italy Theodoret tells us that he wrote an Epistle to all Churches concerning Theodoret Eccles Hist l. 1. c. 10. the Council of Nice wherein he saith there were then many Churches in Britain c. About the year 360. Hilary Bishop of Poictiers among diverse others dedicated his Book De Synodis fidei Catholicae contra Arianos Socrat. Scholast l. 2. c. 6. 7. to the Bishops of the Provinces of Britain during his exile for the Orthodox Faith commending them for their constancy in the profession of that Faith And by the testimony of Athanasius it appeareth that Sozom. l. 3. c. 11. 12. the Britains then had not onely Churches professing the Orthodox Faith but Bishops famous for their Piety and Learning summoned to forreign Councils in remote parts for debating and deciding the highest Articles of the Christian Faith In the year 383. Maximus a Christian and Orthodox Prince governed Du Moul. resp ad Card-du Perroâ— lib. 7 ca. 5. Britain for then all that part of the Island which was subject to the Romans was Christian Not long after the Empire being fallen in the West and torn by the Gothes Francs Vandals and Burgundians the Romans forsook the Isle of Britain which moved the Natives to commit the Kingdome to one Constantine a Britain as one descended from their Nation and a Christian vertuous man About the year 400. Chrysostome gives this testimony concerning the Chrysost oper tom 5. Britains Embracing of the Gospel Nam et Britaniae Insuae extra hoc mare sitae et qâ—ae in ipso oceano sunt vertutem verbi senserunt sunt etiam illic fundatae Ecclesiae c. Illius inquam verbi quod tunc dictum quod â—t in omnium animabus inque omnium labiis plantatum Which he seconded in another Sermon of the Feast of Pentecost CENT V. ABout the year 412 Pelagius born in Britain began to broach his Herefies publickly The same day wâ—â—reon Pelagius was born in Britain St. Augustine was also born in Africk divine providence so ordering it that the poison and the Antidote should be Twins in a manner in respect of the same time as Dr. Fuller well observeth In the year 446. the Pelagian Heresie spread over Britain and the British Churches being defiled thereby King Vortigern for the maintaining the truth sent for German Bishop of Auxerre and Lupus Bishop of Troys in Champagne out of France men famous for their doctrine and counsel who refuting this Heresie gained unto themselves a reverent esteem among the Britains but chiefly German who in a Chappel neer unto St. Albans did openly out of the pulpit preach God's word sincerely to the people This conference was held at St. Albans even where at this day a small Chappel is extant to the honour of St. German Gemanus having baptized multitudes of Pagan converts in the river Alen marched with an Army of them against the Pagans whom he found in the North-East of Wales Here he chose an hollow dale surrounded with Usser de Prit Eccles primâ—rd p. 333. hills near the Village called at this day by the English Mold by the British Guidcrue in Flintshire where the field at this day retains the name of Mees Garmon or German's field Here Germanus placed his men in ambush with instructions that a Signal given they should all shout Hallelujah three times with their might which all was done accordingly Hereat the Pagans without striking a stroak confusedly ran away and many were drowned for speed in the river Alen. After this victory Germanus prepared for his return After Germanus and Lupus were returned home into their native countrey Pelagianism began to sprout again in Britain and after three years Germanus came again with Severus into Britain and the Pelagian Heresie was again condemned in a second Synod having been before condemned in a Synod at London Germanus having setled Bâ—itain in good order returned to his own countrey where he presently died after his return and by God's blessing on his endeavours that Heresie was so cut down in Britain that it never generally grew up again About the year 453. Hengist Captain of the Saxons who came to help the Britans against the Scots and Picts who having married his own daughter to Vortigern had murthered his sovereign Lord Constans and invaded his Crown being called in for his help came with diverse ships of stout Saxon Souldiers who under pretence of protecting them from the Picts intended to plant themselves in the North part of Britain which when the Britans saw and fearing their own ruin they desired the King that he would drive them out of his Kingdome The Nobles also of his Realm did inveigh much against the King's marriage with a Pagan Woman Whereupon Anno 454. they utterly deserted King Vortigern and unanimously chose Vortimer his son to be their King who following their counsel began to expell the Barbarians and chasing them as far as the Derwent he slew many of them Vortigern also fled with them But in the year 460 Prince Vortimer died being poisoned by Rowen his Mother in law with whom the hope of the Britains was extinguished Hereupon Hengist returning into Britain with new forces treacherously slew most of the British Nobles at a pretended Treaty for peace between both Nations And the Saxons being enemies to Christian Religion and bent upon the possession of such a fruitful Counâ—rey exercised great cruelty upon the Inhabitants destroyed Churches and all Ecclesiastical things burnt the holy Scriptures slew the Ministers in the Churches endeavouring to supplant Christian Religion Vortigern had before caused Vodinus Henr. Huntingâ— Lib. 2 Arch-Bishop of London to be put to death because he reproved him for calling in the Saxons and marrying a Pagan Woman and now Theanus Bishop of London and Thaodiceus Bishop of York with others were Galsr 〈◊〉 lib. 12. forced to fly into remote places for the preservation of their lives Thus God sent down his heavie judgements upon the Britains for their Sins as Gildas writeth Britones propter avaritiam rapinam Principum propter iniquitatem injustitiam Judicum propter desidiam praedicationis Episcoporum propter luxuriam malos mores populi perdidisse patriam that is the Britans for the covetousness and oppression of the Princes for the
by King Edgar as most just and reasonable He established Laws Ecclesiastical as well as Civil Canutus went on pilgrimage to Rome and there founded an Hospital for English Pilgrims He shrined the body of Bernius and gave great Lands to the Cathedral Church of Winchester He builded St. Bennet's in Norfolk which was before an Hermitage Also St. Edmond's-bury which King Athelstane ordained before for a Colledge of Priests he turned to an Abbey of Monks of Saint Bennet's Order Two of his Sons succeeded him first his base Son called from his swiftness Harold Harefoot a man of a cowardly disposition He reigned but four years and the Kingdom fell to Hardiknout King of Denmark his Brother who when he had reigned two years being drunk at Lambeth suddenly was stricken dumb and fell down to the ground and within eight dayes after died without issue of his Body Thus ended the Danish Kings which Danes had vexed and wasted the Land two hundred fifty five years When England was freed from the Danes they sent into Normandy inviting over Edward the Confessor and brother to King Edmond He was crowned Anno 1045. In his time was the Law made which concerned the King's Oath at Coronation Mathew Paris describes the Manners of the Countrey at his coming thus The Nobles were given to gluttony and leachery they went not to Church in the morning but only had a Priest which made haste with the Mass and Mattens in their chambers and they heard a little with their ears The Clergy were so ignorant that if any knew the Grammar he was admired by them most men spent nights and dayes in carousing In his dayes England injoyed Halcion dayes free from Danish invasions The Ecclesiastical Laws made by this King in his reign were I. That every Clerk and Scholar should quietly enjoy their goods and possessions II. What solemn Festivals people may come and go of without any Law-suits to disturb them III. That in all Courts where the Bishop's Proctor doth appear his case is first to be heard and determined IV. That guilty folk flying to the Church should there have protection not to be reproved by any but the Bishop and his Ministers V. That Tithes be paid to the Church of Sheep Pigs Bees and the like VI. How the Ordal was to be ordered for the trial of guilty persons by fire and water VII That Peter-pence or Rome-scot be faithfully paid to the Pope This King is reported to have entailed by Heaven's Consort an hereditary vertue on his Successors the Kings of England only with this condition that they continue constant in Christianity to cure the King 's Evil. In this King's reign lived Marianus Scotus that wrote much of the deeds of the Kings of England King Edward died childless Harold the Son of Earl Godwin succeeded him Indeed the undoubted right lay in Edgar Atheling Son to Edward the Outlaw Grandchild to Edmond Iron-side King of England But he being young and tender and of a soft temper and Harold being rich and strong in Knights the Nobles chose Harold to be their King As soon as he was crowned he established many good Laws especially such as were for the good of the Church and for the punishment of evil-doers Harold was slain in a battel near Hastings in Sussex and William Duke of Normandy obtained the Crown of England by conquest within a few years he made a great alteration in England the most part of his Knights and Bishops were Normans and many English with Edgar fled into Scotland where King Malcolm had married Edgar's Sister Margaret They incited Malcolm to invade England and he entred into the North part At last a peace was concluded and a Mark-stone was set up in Stanmoor as the mark of both Kingdoms with the Pourtraict of both Kings on the sides of the Stone Although then corruptions crept into the Church by degrees and divine worship began then to be clogged with superstitious Ceremonies yet that the Doctrine remained still entire in most material points will appear by an Induction of the dominative Controversies wherein we differ from the Church of Rome as Fuller in his Church-History of Britain hath observed I. Scripture generally read For such as were with the holy Bishop Aidan either Clergy or Laity â—ed 〈◊〉 hist lib. 3. ca. 5. were tyed to exercise themselves in reading the holy Word and in singing of Psalms II. The Original preferred For Ricemath a Britain a right learned and godly Clerk Son to Sulgen 〈◊〉 in Chron. of 〈◊〉 Bishop of St. David's flourishing in this Age made this Epigram on those who translated the Psalter out of the Greek so taking it at the second hand and not drawing it immediately from the first vessel Ebreis nablam custodit litera signis Pro captu quam quisque suo sermone latino Edidit innumeros lingua variante libellos Ebreumque jubar suffuscat nube latina c. This Harp the holy Hebrew Text doth tender Which to their power whil'st every one doth render In Latine tongue with many variations He clouds the Hebrew rays with his translation Thus liquors when twice shifted out and pour'd In a third vessel are both cool'd and sowr'd But holy Jerome Truth to light doth bring Briefer and fuller fetcht from the Hebrew Spring III. No Prayers for the dead in the modern notion of Papists For though we find prayers for the dead yet they were not in the nature of propitiation for their sins or to procure relaxation from their torments but were only an honourable commemoration of their memories and a Sacrifice of thanksgiving for their salvation IV. Purgatory then not perfected though newly invented For although there are frequent Visions and Revelations in this Age pretended thereon to build Purgatory which had no ground in Scripture yet it stood not then as now it stands in the Romish belief V. Communion under both kinds For Bede relateth that one Hildmer an Officer of Egfride King of Northumberland entreated our Cuthbert to send a Priest that might minister the Sacrament of the Lord's Body and Blood unto his Wife that then lay a dying And Cuthbert himself immediately before his own departure out of this life received the communion of the Lord's Body and Blood So that the Eucharist was then administred entire and not maimed as it is by the Papists at this day And though the word Mass was frequent in that Age yet was it not known to be offered as a propitiatory Sacrifice for the quick and dead King William to testifie his thankfulness to God for his Victory founded in that place Battel-Abbey endowing it with Revenues and large immunities The Abbot whereof being a Baron of Parliament carried a pardon in his presence who casually coming to the place of execution had power to save any Malefactor The Abby-Church was a place of safety for any Fellon or Murtherer Here the Monks flourished in all abundance till the dayes of Henry the Eighth Then Dooms-day Book was
Calvin and his followers at some parts thereof The Liturgy so reviewed was ratified by Act of Parliament in the year following By the learned Writings of Erasmus and Melancthon together with the Augustan Confession a Book of Articles being thought necessary to be composed the Composers of those Articles were much directed using them as subservient Helps to promote the service Now followed the fatal Tragedy of the Duke of Sommerset and we must recoyl a little to fetch forward the cause thereof Thomas Seymour Baron of Sudely and Lord Admiral the Protector 's younger Brother had married the Lady Katherine Par the Relict of King Henry the Eighth A contest arose between their Wives about place The Women's discords derived themselves into their Husbands hearts whereupon not long after followed the death of the Lord Thomas Seymour arraigned for designing to translate the Crown to himself Soon after the Lords of the Council accuse the Protector of many high offences his greatest Enemy and Accuser was John Dudley Earl of Warwick Hereupon he was imprisoned at Windsor yet he was acquitted though outed his Protectorship restored and continued Privy Counsellor But after two years and two months his Enemies assault him afresh He was indicted of Treason and Felony he was condemned for Felony by a new made Statute for plotting the death of a Privy Counsellor namely the Earl of Warwick Here a strange oversight was committed that he craved not the benefit of the Clergy which could not legally be denied him Not long after he was beheaded on Tower-hill with no less praise for his piety and patience than pity and grief of the beholders In the beginning of the year 1551. happened a terrible Earthquake at Croydon and some other Villages thereabouts in the County of Surrey Afterwards six Dolphins were taken up in the Thames three at Queenborough and three near Greenwich the least as big as any Horse Their coming up so far beheld by States-men as a presage of those storms and Tempests which afterwards befel this Nation in the death of King Edward and the tempestuous Reign of Queen Mary But the saddest presage of all was the breaking out of a Disease câ—llâ—d the Sweating-sickness appearing first at Shrewsbury on April 15. and afterwards spreading by degrees over the Kingdom wherewith if any man were attacqued he died or escaped within nine or ten hours if he slept as most persons desired to do he died within six hours if he took cold he died within three hours Sir Michael Stanhop Sir Thomas Arundel Sir Ralph Vane and Sir Miles Partridge were arraigned and condemned to dye The two first were beheaded and the two last hanged at what time they solemnly protested taking God to witness that they never practised Treason against the King c. Vane adding after all the rest that his Blood would make the pillow of the Earl of Warwick lately made Duke of Northumberland uneasie to him Then fifty six Articles are drawn up against Robert Farrars Bishop of St. Davids and a Commission issued March 9. to enquire into the merit of those Articles charged against him on the return whereof he is indicted of a Praemunire at the Assizes at Carmarthen committed thereupon to prison where he remained all the rest of King Edward's time never restored to liberty till he came to the Stake in Queen Maries Reign On the twenty ninth of January 1552. The Bishoprick of Westminster was dissolved by the King's Letters Patents by which the County of Middlesex which had before been laid unto it was restored unto the See of London The Book of Articles made in the Synod at London may be truly said to be the work of that Convocation though many Members of it never saw the same till the Book was published in regard as Mr. Philpot saith that they had a Synodical Authority to make such spiritual Laws Fox Acts and Monuments fol. 1282. as to them seemed to be necessary or convenient for the use of the Church Moreover the Church of England for the first five years of Queen Elizabeth retained these Articles and no other as the publick Tenents of the Church in point of Doctrine which she had not done had they been commended to her by a less Authority than a Convocation These Râ—giâ authoritate in lucemedâ—ti Articles were confirmed and published for such by the King's Authority as appears further by the Title in due form of Law And so it is resolved by Philpot in behalf of the Catechism which came out Anno 1553. with the approbation of the said Bishops and learned Men. The Liturgy being setled and confirmed in Parliament was by the King's command translated into French for the use of the â—sles of Guernsey and Jersey and such as lived within the Marches and command of Calais But no such care was taken for Wales till the fifth year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth nor of the Realm of Ireland from that time to this as Doctor Heylin observeth Then that which concerns as well the nature as the number of such Feasts and Fasts as were thought fit to be retained were determined and concluded on by an Act of Parliament Which Statute though repealed in the first of Queen Mary and not revived till the first year of the Reign of King James yet in effect it stood in force and was more punctually observedin the time of Queen Elizabeth's Reign than after the reviving of it The next care was that Consecrated places should not be profaned by fighting and quarrelling as they had been lately since the Episcopal Jurisdiction and the ancient Censures of the Church were lessened in Authority and reputation This Parliament ending on April 15. the Book of Common-prayer was printed and published which had been therein authorized And the time being come which was set for the officiating it there appeared much alteration in the outward solemnities of Divine service to which the people had formerly been so long accustomed For by the Rubrick of that Book no Copes or other Vestures were required but the Surplice only whereby the Bishops must forbear their Crosses and the Prebends of St. Paul â—s leave off their Hoods To give a beginning hereunto Bishop Ridley then Bishop of London did the same day officiate the Divine service of the Morning in his Rochet only without Cope or Vestment he preached also at St. Paul's in the afternoon the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Companies in their best Liveries in their Companies being present at it the Sermon tending for the most part to the setting forth the said Book of Common-prayer and to acquaint them with the Reasons of such alterations as were made therein On the same day the new Liturgy was executed also in all the Churches of London Not long after the upper Quire in St. Paul's Church where the high Altar stood was broken down and all the Quire thereabout and the Communion-table was placed in the lower part of the Quire where the Minister
then actually restored to that See Having performed the obsequies of her Brother on the ninth and tenth she removes her Court to Whitehal on September she passeth thence to the Tower by Water attended by her Sister and a great Train of Noble Ladies and made her return through the principal Streets of the same City on the last of the same moneth in a most stately manner and the next day proceeded in like pomp to the Abbey-Church at Dr. P. Heylins History of Queen Mary Westminster where she was met by the Silver Crosses and eighty Singing-men all in rich Coaps so sudden a recruit was made of these sacred Vestments among whom went the new Dean of Westminster Dr. Weston and diverse Chaplains of her own each of them bearing in their hand some ensign or other After them marched ten Bishops which were all as remained of her perswasion with their Miters rich Coaps and Crosier-staves The Sermon was preached by Doctor Day whom she had restored to the See of Chichester The solemnity of the Coronation was performed by the Bishop of Winchester the new Lord Chancellor Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury being then committed to the Tower Till this time none was more dear to her than her Sister the Lady Elizabeth but after her Coronation she estranged her self from her She preferred Henry Raâ—cliff Earl of Sussex to the society of the Garter which honour she conferred on his Son Thomas after his decease and to be covered in her presence at all times and places according to the custom of the Grandees in the Realm of Spain She also advanced the Earl of Arundel to the Office of Lord Steward She made Sir Edward Hastings Master of the Horse and Knight of the Garter and afterwards Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold and Lord Hastings of Loughborough She honoured Sir John Williams with the Title of Lord Williams of Thame She preferred Sir Henry Jerningham to be Captain of her Guard and afterwards Sir Thomas Tresham was created Lord Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem She preferred her old Servants Hopton her old Chaplain to the See of Norwich Rochester to be Comptroller of her Houshold Inglefield to be Master of the Wards and Walgrave to be Master of the Wardrobe Sir John Gage a zealous Papist was made Lord Chamberlain of her Houshold when she came first to the Tower Bishop Bonner was discharged of the Marshalsey and Bishop Tunstal from the King's Bench within two days after Bonner is restored to his See of London and Tunstal to Durham and an Act of Parliament procured for the restoring of the Church of Durham to all its Lands and Jurisdictions of which it stood divested by the late Act of Dissolution made in the last year of the deceased King Coverdale was displaced from the See of Exeter Scory from that of Chichester and Hooper from the Commendatory of the See of Worcester to which Sees Voisy Day and Heath were again restored The like course also followed for the depriving of all Deans Dignitaries and Parochial Ministers who had succeeded into any of those preferments during the Reign of the two last Kings Doctor Cox was on August 5. brought to the Marshalsey and spoiled of his Deaneries of Christ-church and Westminster to make room for Doctor Richard Marshal in the one and Doctor Hugh Weston in the other Peter Martyr coming from Oxford to London where for a time he was commanded to keep his House but was soon after suffered to return into his own Countrey A Letter was sent at the same time to the Mayor of Coventry to set at liberty Hugh Simons if he would recant his Sermon or else to stay him A little before Mr. Bradford Mr. Vernon and Mr. Beacon Preachersâ— were committed to the Tower A Letter was sent to the Sheriffs of Buckingham and Bedford for the apprehending Mr. Fisher Parson of Amersham Another Letter was sent to the Bishop of Norwich not to suffer any to Preach or Expound openly the Scriptures without special License from the Queen Mr. John Rogers Preacher was confined to his own house Hooper and Coverdale being cited to appear before the Lords of the Council did appear Hooper was committed to the Fleet and Coverdale commanded to attend the pleasure of the Lords Fisher of Amersham and Hugh Sanders Vicar of St. Michaels in Coventry appeared also before the Council Hugh Latimer appeared also and was committed to the Tower Doctor Bourn Archdeacon of London Preaching at Pauls Cross in favour of Bishop Bonner there present at the Sermon inveighed against some proceedings in the time of the late King Edward which so incensed the people that a great tumult arose upon it some pelting with Stones others crying aloud Pull him down and one who could never be known flinging a Dagger at his Head which after was found sticking in a post of the Pulpit The Preacher with difficulty was secured in a School adjoyning By reason of which tumult the Lords of the Council with the Lord Mayor and Aldermen took order that every Housholder should cause their Children and Apprentices to keep their own Parish-churches upon Holidays order was taken for preventing the like Tumult on the Sunday following A Sermon was Preached at the Cross by Doctor Watson who afterwards was Bishop of Lincoln for whose security many Lords of the Council were there present and Jerningham Captain of the Guard with two hundred of his Yeomen standing round about the Pulpit with their Halberts Then care was taken that nothing should be Preached in private Churches contrary to the Doctrine which was and should be Taught at the Cross by them which were appointed to it It was further ordered that every Alderman in his Ward should send for the Curates of every Church within their Liberties and warn them not onely to forbear Preaching themselves but also not to suffer any other to Preach or make any open reading of Scripture in their Churches unless the said Preachers were severally Licensed by the Queen For eight weeks after the Proclaiming of Mary Queen Protestantism and Popery were together set on foot the former hoping to be continued the latter labouring to be restored Seeing by the fidelity of the Norfolk and Suffolk Protestant Gentry the Queen was much advantaged for the speedy recovering of her Right they conceived that as she by them had regained the Crown so they under her should enjoy their Consciences The Papists put their Ceremonies in execution presuming on the Queens private practice and publick countenance The Queen on August 18. puts forth a Proclamation declaring her self for the Popish Religion which she resolves to observe for her self wishing her Subjects to follow her example yet that she mindeth not to compel any thereunto until such time as further order by common Assent may be taken therein forbidding all her Subjects to move Seditions at their perils and the Printing of any Book Rhyme Enterlude or Treatise without her special License for the same and
likewise to Preach or by way of reading in Churches or other publick or private places except in Schools of the Universities to Interpret or Teach any Scripture or any points of Doctrine concerning Religion Hereupon many of the people in divers places received their old Religion erected again their Altars and used the Mass and Latin Service as was wont to be in King Henrie's time In Cambridge the Vice-chancellor chalenged one Peirson on Octob. 3. for officiating the Communion in his own Parish Church in the English Tongue and on the 26. displaced Doctor Madew Master of Clare-hall for being Married In like manner some of the Popish party in King's Colledge on the 28th of the same moneth officiated the Divine Service in the Latin Tongue At Oxford John Jewel was chosen to pen the first gratulatory Letter to the Queen in the name of the University an Office imposed on him by his Enemies Doctor Tresham a Van-eurrier before authority repaired the great Bell in Christ-church and named it Mary Harley Bishop of Hereford and Taylor of Lincoln two of the last of King Edward's Bishops were present at the opening of the Parliament Octob. 10. But no sooner was the Mass begun though not then restored by any Law than they left the Church For which the Bishop of Lincoln being first examined and making profession of his Faith prevented the malice of his enemies by a timely Death And Harley upon information of his Marriage was presently excluded from the Parliament-house and not long after from his Bishoprick also Hereupon Bishop Barlow of Wells and Scory of Chichester passed beyond the Seas followed not long after by Bishop Poinet of Winchester On November 3. Archbishop Cranmer was arraigned at the Guild-hall in London with the Lord Guilford Dudley the late Queen Jane his Wife and others all of them being attainted and condemned of Treason After Peter Martyr had quit the Realm his Wive's Body having been buried in the Church of St. Frideswid was afterward by publick order taken out of the Grave and buried in a common dunghill John a Lasco was forced to dissolve his Congregation and He with his Strangers to quit the Countrey The like hast made the French Protestants also At which time many of the English as well Students as others deparâ—ed also The principal of those were Katherine the last Wife of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk Robert Berty Esq Husband to the Dutchess the Bishops of Winchester and Wells as before was said Sir Richard Morison Sir Anthany Cook and Sir John Cheek Doctor Cox Doctor Sands and Doctor Grindal The News of Queen Maries succeeding her Brother to the Crown of England posted to Rome and was very welcome to Pope Julius the Third because it gave him some assurance of his re-admission into the Power and Jurisdiction of his Predecessors in the Realm of England in pursuance of which hopes it was resolved that Cardinal Pool should be sent Legate into England who being of the Blood-royl and a man of eminent Learning and of exemplary life was looked on as the fittest Instrument to reduce that Kingdom The Parliaments first Act was to take away all Statutes passed by the two last Kings wherein certain Offences had been made High Treason and others brought within the compass of a Pramunire This was done especially for Pool's security that neither He by exercising his authority nor the Clergy by submitting to it might be entangled in the like snares as Cardinal Wolsey and the whole Clergy of his time had before been caught Then an Act was passed for repealing certain Statutes of King Edward thereby they took away all former Statutes for administring the Sacraments in both kinds for establishing the first and second Liturgy c. In a word by this one blow the Queen cut down all that had been done in the Reformation in seven years before And then for want of Canonical Ordination on the one side and under colour of Uncanonical Marriages on the other there was presently such a remove among the Bishops and Clergy as it is not any where to be paralelled in so short a time An Act was passed likewise Entitled An Act against offenders of Preachers c which two Acts were seconded by the Queen with two Proclamations December 5. By one of which it was declared that all Statutes made in the time of the late King Edward which concerned Religion were repealed by Parliament and therefore that the Mass should be said as formerly to begin on the twentieth of that moneth And by the other it was commanded that no person should dare from thenceforth to disturb any Priests in saying Mass or executing any other Divine Office Accordingly the Mass was publickly officiated in all parts of the Kingdom and so continued during the Reign of the Queen without interruption Another Act was passed wherein it was Enacted That the Marriage between King Henry the Eighth and Queen Katherine his first Wife was lawful and to stand with God's Laws and his Holy Word c. That the Decree of Divorce heretofore passed between the said King Henry and the said Queen by Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury should be reputed to be void and null with a Repeal of all such Statutes wherein the Queen had been diclared to be Illegitimaâ—e There also past another Act in which there was a clause for the invalidating of all such Commissions as had been granted in the time of the late Queen Jane and one in confirming the Attainders of the late Duke of Northumberland Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury c. Together with this Parliament the Queen summoned a Convocation that all matters of Religion might first be debated and concluded in a Synodical way before they were offered to the Parliament In the Writs of which Summons she retained the Title of Supreme Head on Heylin Hist of Q. Mary Earth of the Church of England c. the want whereof in those of the present Parliament occasioned dispute among some of the Members Whether they might lawfully proceed or not in such publick business as were to be propounded to them in that Session The Presidentship of the Convocetion was transferred upon Bishop Bonner priviledged in respect of his See to preside in all such Provincial Synods which were either held during the vacancy of the See of Canterbury or in the necessary absence of the Metropolitan The lower House of the Clergy also was fitted with a Prolocutor of the same affections Doctor Hugh Weston Dean of Westminster in the place of Doctor Cox So partially had the elections been returned from the several Diocesses that we find none of King Edward's Clergy among the Clerks and but six of the Deans and Dignitaries to have suffrage in the Convocation viz. James Haddon Dean of Exeter Walter Philips Dean of Rochester John Philpot Archdeacon of Winchester John Elmer Archdeacon of Stow in the Diocess of Lincoln Richard Cheiney Archdeacon of Hereford one more mentioned by Mr. Fox
Dorothy Stafford afterwards of the Bed-chamber to Queen Elizabeth 〈…〉 Lady Elizabeth Berkley Some of the English Exiles seated themselves at Emden in East-Frizland a Staple Town of English Merchants John Scory late Bishop of Chichester was Superintendent of the English Congregation in Emden Some setled themselves at Weasel then in the Dominions of the Duke of Cleve but bordering on the Low Countries in the King of Spain's possession but they quickly left this place some of them went to Arrow a small City in Switzerland on the banks of the River Arrola belonging to Bern. The most eminent English seated themselves at Strasburgh as James Haddon Edwyn Sandys Edmond Grindal John Huntington Guido Eaton John Geoffry John Peader Thomas Eaton Michael Raymuger Augustine Bradbridge Arthur Saule Thomas Steward Christopher Goodman Thomas Lakin Humfrey Alcocson Thomas Crafton Some went to Zuric stiled the Students at Zuric viz. Robert Horn Richard Chambers Thomas Leaver Nicholas Carvil John Mullings Thomas Spencer Thomas Bentham William Cole John Parkhurst Roger Kelk Robert Beaumont Laurence Humfrey Henry Cockcraft John Pretio At Franckford on the Meine was the most conspicuous English Church beyond the Seas consisting of John Bale Edmond Sutton John Makebray William Whittingham Thomas Cole William Williams George Chidley William Hammon Thomas Steward Thomas Wood John Staunton William Walton Jasper Swift John Geoffry John Gray Michael Gill John Fox Laurence Kent William Kethe John Hollingham John Samford John Wood Thomas Sorby Anthony Carier Hugh Alford George Whetnal Thomas Whetnal Edward Sutton Besides these the first Founders of these Congregations many additional persons coming afterward out of England joyned themselves thereunto Now followed the sad troubles of Frankford rending these Exiles into divers Factions The English had a Church granted unto them in câ—parcenie with the French Protestants they one day and the English another Which was granted them with this proviso That they should not dissent from the French in Doctrine or Ceremony lest thereby they should minister occasion of offence The English constituted their new Church chusing a Minister and Deacons for a time and out of conformity to the French abrogated many things formerly used by them in the Church of England 1. They concluded there should be no answering aloud after the Minister 2. That the Litany Surplice c. should be omitted 3. Instead of the English Confession they used another framed according to the state and time 4. The same ended the people sang a Psalm in metre in a plain tune 5. That done the Minister prayed for the assistance of God's Spirit and so proceeded to the Sermon 6. After Sermon a general Prayer for all States and particularly for England was devised 7. Then followed a Rehearsal of the Articles of Belief which ended the people sang another Psalm 8. Lastly The Minister pronounced the Blessing and so the people departed Thus setled in their Church they write Letters to all the English Congregations at Strasburgh Zuric Emden c. to invite them with all convenient speed to joyn with them at Franckford This occasioned several reiterated Letters from Franckford requiring those of Zurich to weigh the necessity of joyning themselves in one Congregation Those of Zurich by many dilatory Letters excused themselves from coming thither But the main reason was those of Zurich were resolved to recede no whit from the Liturgy used in England under King Edward the sixth and unless coming thither they might be assured they should have the full and free use thereof they utterly refused any Communion with their Congregation Then came Mr. John Knox from Geneva and was chosen by the Congregation at Frankford for their Pastor At which time Mr. Chambers and Mr. Edmond Grindal came thither as Agents with a Letter from Troubles of Frankford p. 24. the Congregation of Strasburgh These made a motion that they might have the substance of the Common-prayer-book though such Ceremonies and things which the Country could not bear might well be omitted But Knox and Whittingham were as much bent against the substance of the Book as against any of the Circumstantials which belonged to it Hereupon Grindal and Chambers return back again to Strasburgh Knox and others in Frankford drew up in Latin a platform of the English Liturgy and sent it to Geneva tendring it to the judgment of Mr. John Calvin who answereth that in the English Liturgy he had observed multas tolerabiles ineptias many tolerable fooleries adding that there wanted that purity which was to be desired in it that it contained many Relicks of Popish dregs that seeing there was no manifest impiety in it it had been tolerated for a season because at first it could not otherwise be admitted But howsoever though it was lawful to begin with such beggarly rudiments yet it behoved the learned grave and godly Ministers of Christ to endeavour further and set forth something more refined from filth and rustiness This being sent unto Knox and Whittingham those who formerly approved did afterwards dislike the English Liturgy But in the end it was agreed on that a mixt form consisting partly of the order of Geneva and partly of the Book of England should be digested and received till the first of April In this condition of affairs Doctor Richard Cox the late Dean of Christ-church and Westminster first School-master and afterward Almoner to King Edward the Sixth putteth himself into Frankford March 13. accompanied with many English Exiles Being a man of great learning of great authority in the Church and one that had a principal hand in drawing up the Liturgy by Law established he could not patiently bear these innovations in it He thereupon first begins to answer the Minister contrary to the order there agreed on and the next Lord's-day after causeth one of his company to go into the Pulpit and read the Litany Against which doings of his Knox in a Sermon the same day inveigheth most bitterly affirming many things in the English book to be imperfect and superstitious for which he is both rebuked by Cox and forbidden to preach Hereupon Whittingham procureth an Order from the Magistrates requiring that the English should conform themselves to the Rules of the French Cox his party being depressed they accuse Knox to the State for high Treason against the Emperor in an English book of his entitled An Adnonition to all Christians first privately preached in Buckinghamshire and now publickly printed to the world wherein he called the Emperor no less an enemy to Christ than Nero. Hereupon the State of Frankford willed Knox to depart the City who on March 25. to the great grief of his Friends left the Congregation and retâ—â—eth himself to Geneva Whittingham and the rest of his party were commanded to receive the Book of England against which Order Whittingham for a time opposeth encouraged therein by Goodman but finding Cox and his party too strong for them they also left Franckford shortly after Then Doctor Cox and his Adherents
Heylins History of Queen Eliz. Cures which filled the Church with an Ignorant Clergy whose Learning went no further than the Liturgy or the Book of Homilies but otherwise conformable which was no small felicity to the Rules of the Church And on the other side many were raised to great preferments who having spent their time of exile in such Forreign Churches as followed the platform of Geneva returned so disaffected to Episcopal Government unto the Rites here by Law established as not long after filled the Church with most sad disorders On which account we find the Queens Professor in Oxford among the Non-conformists and Cartwright the Lady Margaret's in Cambridge VVhittingham the Ring-leader of the Franckfort dividers was preferred to the Deanery of Durham Sampson to the Deanery of Christ-church and within few years after turned out for a rigid Non-conformist Hardiman one of the first twelve Prebendaries of the Church of VVestminster deprived soon after for throwing down the Altar and defacing the Vestments of the Church Whether it were by the Pope's instigation or by by the ambition of the Daulphin who had then Married the Queen of Scots the Scottish Queen assumeth unto her self the Style and Title of Queen of England quartereth the Armes thereof upon all her Plate and in all Armories and Eschutcheons as she had occasion A folly that Queen Elizabeth could never forget nor forgive and this engaged her the more resolutely in that Reformation so happily begun And to that purpose she sets out by advice of her Council a certain Body of Injunctions accommodated to the temper of the present time wherein severe course was taken about Ministers Marriages the use of Singing and the Reverence in Divine Worship to be kept in Churches the posture of the Communion-table and the Form of Prayers in the Congregation By the Injunctions she made way to her Visitation Executed by Commissioners in their several Circuits and regulated by a Book of Articles printed and published for thâ—â— purpose Proceeding by which Articles the Commissioners removed all carved Images out of the Church which had been abused to Superstition defacing also all such Pictures Paintings as served for the setting forth feigned Miracles They enquired also into the life and doctrine of Ministers their diligence in attending their several Cures the decency of their apparel the respect of the Parishioners toward them the reverent behaviour of Hâ—yliâ—'s Hist of Q. Elizab. all manner of persons in God's Worship c. by means whereof the Church was setled and confirmed in so good an Order that the work was made more easie to the Bishops when they came to Govern than otherwise it could have been In London the Visitors were Sir Richard Sackvil Father to Thomas Earl of Dorset Robert Horn soon after Bishop of VVinchester Doctor Huick a Civilian and one Salvage a Common Lawyer who calling before them divers Persons of every Parish gave them an Oath to enquire and present upon such Articles and Injunctions as were given unto them In pursuance whereof they burnt in St. Paul's Church-yard Cheapside and other places of the City all the Roods and other Images which had been taken out of the Churches And in some places the Copes Vestments Altar-cloathes Books Banners Sepulchres and Rood-lofts were burned altogether A Peace being concluded betwixt England and France although Queen Elizabeth had just cause to be offended with the young King Francis the Second for causing the Queen of Scots his Wise to take upon her self the Title and Armes of England yet she resolved to bestow a Royal obsequy upon the King deceased which was performed in St. Paul's Church on the eighth and nineth of September in most solemn manner Kellison the Jesuite and Parsons from him slaunderously affirmed That Archbishop Parker was consecrated at the Nags-head Tavern in Cheapside This slaunder was raised on this occasion In order to his Consecration the first thing to be done after the passing the Royal Assent for ratifying the election of the Dean and Chapter was the confirming it in the Court of the Arches according to the usual form in that behalf Which being accordingly done the Vicar General the Mason's Consecration of Bishops in the Church of England lib. 3. cap. 4. Dean of the Arches the Proctors and Officers of the Court whose presence was required at this Solemnity were entertained at a Dinner provided for them at the Nags-head Tavern in Cheapside for which though Archbishop Parker paid the shot yet shall the Church be called to an after-reckoning But the Records of the Archbishoprick declare that he was Consecrated in the Chappel within his Mannor of Lambeth These slaunderers knew right well that nothing did more justifie the Church of England in the eye of the World than that it did preserve a Succession of Bishops and consequently of all other sacred Orders in the Ministration without which as they would not grant it to be a Church so could they prove it to be none by no stronger Argument than that the Bishops or the pretended Bishops rather in their Opinion were either not Consecrate at all or not Canonically Consecrated as they ought to be And now we may behold the face of the Church of England as it was first setled and established under Queen Elizabeth The Government of the Church by Archbishops and Bishops These Bishops nominated and elected according to the Statute in the twenty sixth of King Henry the Eighth and Consecrated by the Ordinal confirmed by Parliament in the fifth and sixth year of King Edward the Sixth never appearing publickly but in their Rotchets nor Officiating otherwise than in Copes of the Altar the Priests not stirring out of doors in their square Caps Cowns or Canonical Coats nor Executing any Divine Service but in their Surplice The Doctrine of the Church reduced Heylin Hist of Q. Elizab. unto it's antient purity according to the Articles agreed upon in Convocation Anno 1552. The Liturgy conform to the Primitive paterns The Festivals preserved in their former dignity observed with their distinct Offices peculiar to them the weekly Fasts the time of Lent the Embring weeks and Rogation severely kept not now by vertue of the Statute as in the time of King Edward but as appointed by the Church in her publick Calendar before the Book of Common-Prayer The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper celebrated in a Reverend manner the Table seated in the place of the Altar In the Court the Liturgy was officiated every day both Morning and Evening not onely in the publick Chappel but the private Closet celebrated in the Chappel with Organs and other Musical Instruments and the most excellent voices both of men and children that could be got in all the Kingdom The Gentlemen and Children in their Surplices and the Priests in Copes as oft as they attended the Divine Service at the Altar The Altar furnished with rich Plate two fair gilt Candlesticks with Tapers in them and a Massy Crucifix in
midst thereof Which last remained there for some years The antient Ceremonies customably observed by the Knights of the Garrer in their Adoration toward the Altar were by this Queen retained aâ— formerly in her Father's time The solemn Sermons Preached upon each Wednesday Friday and Lords-day in the time of Lent Preached by the choycest of the Clergy she devoutly heard attired in black according to the custom of her Predecessors The Bishoprick of Carlile was first profered to Bernard Gilpin Rector â—uller Church History of Britain of Houghton in the North but Mr. Gilpin refused the offer not that he had any disaffection to the Office but because he had so much kinred about Carlile at whom He must either connive in many things not without hurt to himself or else deny them not without offence to them It was afterward given to Dr. John Best as was shewed before As for Miles Coverdale formerly Bishop of Exeter he hever returned to his See but remained a private Minister to the day of his death Such of the Scots as desired a Reformation of Religion taking advantage by the Queen's abscence and want of power in the Queen Regent to suppress their practices had put themselves into a Body Headed by some of the Nobility they take unto themselves the name of the Congregation managing their own Affairs apart from the rest of the Kingdom They petition the Queen Regent and the Lords of the Council that the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper might be administred in both kinds That divine Offices might be celebrated in the vulgar Tongue and that they might have the choice of their own Ministers The chief of the party well backed by the common people put themselves into Perth the news whereof occasioneth Mr. Knox to leave Geneva and joyn himself to the Lords of the Congregation At Perth he Preacheth against Images Idolatry and other Superstitions of the Church of Rome so bitterly that the people in a popular fury deface all the Images in that Church and presently demolish all Religious Houses in that City Those of Couper hearing of it forthwith destroyed all Images and pulled down the Altars in that Church also The like was done after his Preaching at Craile and St. Andrews in those places They burnt down the rich Monastery of Scone and ruined that of Cambuskenneth demolished all the Altars Images and Covents of Religious persons in Sterling Lithgow Glascough Edenburgh which last they possess and put up their own Preachers into all the Pulpits of that City not suffering the Queen Regent to have the use of one Church onely for her own devotions They alse deprive the Queen Regent of all place and power in the publick Government But she gathering Forces recovereth Edenborough and the chief key of all that Kingdom garisoned by the French In their extremity Maitland and Melvin being dispatched to the Court of England imploring aid from Queen Elizabeth And an Army is sent into Scotland of six thousand Foot and three thousand Horse commanded by the Lord Gray Some Ships were also sent to block up the haven and hinder all Relief which might come by Sea to the Town of Leith At length after divers Articles signed and confirmed for both Kingdoms the French take their leave of Scotland and the English Army was disbanded at Berwick As the Congregation was by the Queen put upon a present confidence of going vigorously on in their Reformation so it concern'd them to proceed so carefully in pursuance of it as might comply with the dependance which they had upon her First Therefore they bound themselves by their subscription to embrace the Liturgy with all the Rites of the Church of England which for a time remained the onely form of Worship for the Kirk of Scotland In the next place They cause a Parliament to be called in the moneth of August for the Boroughs there appeared the accustomed number but of the Lords Spiritual no more than six Bishops of thirteen with thirteen Abbots and Priors and the Temporal Lords to the number of ten Earls and as many Barons Three Acts were passed to the advantage of the Reformation The first was for the abolishing the Pope's Jurisdiction and Authority within the Realm The second for annulling all Statutes made in former times for maintenance of Idolatry and Superstition The third for the punishing the Sayers and Hearers of the Mass To this Parliament also some of the Ministers presented a Confession of the Faith and Doctrine to be believed and professed by the Protestants of the Kirk of Scotland which being put to the Vote was opposed but by three of the Temporal Lords The Popish Prelates were silent in it which being observed by the Earl Marshal he broke out into these words Seeing saith He that my Lords the Bishops who by their Learning can and for the zeal they should have to the Truth ought as I suppose to gainsay any thing repugnant to it say nothing against the Confession we have heard I cannot think but that it is the very Truth of God and that the contrary of it is false Doctrine The Queen was now as active in advancing the Reformed Religion in Ireland as she had been in either of the other Kingdoms A Parliament is therefore held on January 12. where past an Act restoring to the Crown the antient Jurisdiction over all Ecclesiastical and Spiritual Persons By which Statute were established both the Oath of Supremacy and the High Commission as before in England There past also an Act for the Uniformity of Common-Prayer c. with a permission Heyliâ—'s Hist of Q. Elizab. for saying the same in Latin in those Churches where the Minister had not the knowledge of the English Tongue The people by that Statute are required under several penalties to frequent their Churches and to be frequent at the reading the English Liturgy which they understand as little as the Mass by which means the Irish were kept in ignorance as to the Doctrines and Devotions of the Church of England There also past another Statute for restoring to the Crown the first-fruits and twenty parts of all Ecclesiastical promotions within that Realm as also of all Impropriate Parsonages The like Act passed for restoring all such Lands belonging to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem An Act was also past for the recognition of the Queen 's just Title to the Crown as before in England The Queen left the prosecution of the work to her Bishops and Clergy But they so dissipated the Revenues of their several Bishopricks by long Leases Fee-farmes and plain Alienations that to some of their Sees they left no more than a Rent of five Marks per annum to others a bare yearly Rent of forty shillings to the great dishonour of God disservice of the Church and the perpetual Ignominy of themselves Now Return we again to England where we find Reverend Jewel newly consecrated Bishop of Salisbury to have Preached a Sermon at
the Queen whom he had heard to be one of the Innovators Being cast into the Tower of London he slew one of his Keepers with a Billet which he snatched up out of the Chimney for which he was condemned of murther had his right hand cut off and nailed to the Gallows and then he was hanged In the year 1574. certain Ministers of London were deluded by a Maid which counterfeited her self to be possessed of the Devil So powerful was the party of the Non-conformists grown at this time that Doctor Humfrey then President of Maudlins and Mr. John Fox himself both which scrupled subscription in some particulars were deserted by them as luke-warm and remiss in the cause Coleman Burton Hallingham Benson out-did all of their own Opinions Then died Matthew Parker Archbishop of Canterbury an excellent Antiquary a great Benefactor to Bennet-colledge in Cambridge on which he bestowed many Manuscripts Edmond Grindal succeeded him in his place Not long after died James Pilkinton Bishop of Durham He was as appeareth by many of his Letters a great conniver at Non conformity The same year died Edward Deering an eminent Divine born of an ancient Family in Kent bred Fellow of Christ's-colledge in Cambridge a pious and painful Preacher but disaffected to Bishops and Ceremonies Rowland Jenkes a Popish Bookseller was indicted at the Summer-Assizes in Oxford for dispersing of scandalous Pamphlets defamatory to the Queen and State Then the Queen laboureth to compound the Netherland differences but it had little effect She relieveth the Estates and the Prince of Orange with twenty thousand pounds of English money upon condition they should neither change their Religion nor their Prince nor receive the French into the Netherlands Then one Cuthbert Mayn a Priest was drawn hanged and quartered at Launston in Cornwal for his obstinate maintaining of the Papal power and Trugion a Gentleman of that Countrey which had harboured him was turned out of his Estate and condemâ—ed to perpetual imprisonment In this year 1577. died Nicholas Bullingham Bishop of Worcester And the same year died William Bradbridge Bishop of Exeter and Edmond Guest Bishop of Salisbury Anno 1579. died Richard Cheiney Bishop of Bristol Robert Horn Bishop of Winchester succeeded Thomas Centham Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield followed him And not long after died Richard Cox Bishop of Ely Now the Sect called The Family of Love began to grow so numerous that the Privy Council thought fit to endeavour their suppression They perswaded their followers That those only were elected and to be saved which were admitted into that Family and all the rest Reprobates and to be damned and that it was lawful for them to deny upon their Oath before a Magistrate whatsoever they list Of this Fanatical vanity they dispersed Books among their followers translated out of the Dutch Tongue into English which they entitled The Gospel of the Kingdoâ— Docuâ—ental Sentences The Prophesy of the Spirit of Love The pubâ—ishing of Peace upon Earth The Author was Henry Nicâ—olas of Lâ—rden who blasphemously said That he did partake of God and God of his Humanity This Man came over into England in the Reign of King Edward the Sixth joyned himself to the Dutch Congregation in London where he seduced many Artificers and silly Women among The Abâ—â—ration may be read in Fâ—â—â—er church Hist â—â— Aâ— 1580. whom two Daughters of one Warwick to whom he dedicated an Epistle were his principal Pâ—rverts Mr. Martin Micronius and Mr. Nicholas Charineus then the Ministers of the Dutch Congregation zealously confuted his errors but it seems their Antidotes pierced not so deep as his Poysons The Privy Council now tendred unto them an Abjuration but with what success we find not The Queen commanded by Proclamation That the Civil Magistrate should be assistant to the Ecclesiastical for the timely suppressing of them and that their Books should be burnt Then divers Seminary Priests were sent forth into several parts of England and Irâ—land to administer as they pretended the Sacraments of the Romish Religion and to preach But the Queen and her Council found that they were sent under-hand to withdraw the Subjects from their Allegiance and Obedience due to their Prince to bind them by Reconciliation to perform the Pope's Commandements to raise intestine Rebellion under the Seal of Confession and flatly to execute the Sentence of Pope Pius the Fifth against the Queen To these Seminaries for as much as there were sent daily out of England from the Papists very many Boys and young Men of all sorts and admitted into the same making a Vow to return and others from thence crept secretly into England there came forth a Proclamation in the month of June That whosoever had Children Pupils Kinsmen or others in the parts beyond the Seas should after ten dayes deliver their names to the Ordinary and to those which returned not they should not directly or indirectly supply any money That no Man should entertain in his hoâ—se or lodge Priests sent forth of the Seminaries and Jesuits or cherish and relieve them And whosoever did the contrary should be accounted a favourer of Rebels c. But Robert Parsons and Edmond Campian Jesuits living at Rome 〈◊〉 's Hist of Queen Eâ—i Anno 1580. obteined of the Pope license to come over into England Parsons was born in Sommerset-shire of Baliol-colledge in Oxford a man of a fierce nature and rude behaviour he professed openly the Protestants Religion until he was for his dishonesty expelled the University then fled he to the Papists Campian was born in London and bred in St. John's-colledge in Oxford one of a sweet nature and fluent tongue These two notably advanced the Roman causeâ— travelling up and down the Countrey secretly and to Popish Gentlemens houses in disguised habits sometimes of Souldiers sometimes of Gentlemen sometimes of Ministers of the Word sometimes of Apparitors Campian by a Writing set forth challenged the Ministers of the English Church to a Disputation and published a Book in Latin of ten Reasons for maintenance of the Doctrine of the Church of Rome and Parsons another virulent Book in English against Chark who had written soberly against Campian's challenge But to Campian's Reasons Whitaker answered soundly He was taken a year after and put to the rack and afterwards being brought forth to dispute hardly maintained the expectation raised of him Parsons hardly escaping at Norwich in Cheshire politickly returneth to Rome This year Edmond Grindal Archbishop of Canterbury groaning under the Queens displeasure was forbidden access to the Convocation But a Petition was drawn up in the name of the whole Convocation for the restitution of the Archbishop by Toby Matthew Dean of Christ-church This Petition after delayes ended in a final denial it being daily suggested to the Queen that Grindal was a great Patron of Prophecyings now set up in several parts of the Land which if permitted would in fine prove the bane of the Church and State These
Kingdom of Naples and nominated him to be Archbishop of Machlin but he died and was buried in the Church Pitraeus de illustr Angl. script p. 793. of the English Colledge at Rome His loss was much lamented by the Catholicks for he had done many good offices in composing the grudgings which began to grow between the Secular Priests and Jesuites Untill this time the prime Catholicks in Wisbich Castle had lived there in restraint with great concord And the Papists do brag that then and there the English Church was most visible untill one Father Weston a Jesuite coming thither erected a Government among them making certain Sanctions and Orders which all were bound to observe claiming a superiority over all the Catholicks there Besides those of his own society many of the Secular Priests submitted unto him though the greatest number and Learned sort of the Secular Priests resisted his superiority If any Order might pretend to this Priority it was most proper for the Benedictines extant in England above a thousand years ago one might admire why Father Weston should so earnestly desire so silly a Dominion having his power as well as his own person confined within the walls of Wisbich Castle Anno 1595. Began throughout England the more solem and strict observation of the Lord's day occasioned by a Book then set forth by P. bound D. D. and enlarged with additions Anno 1606. Hereupon the Lord's day especially in Corporations began to be precisely kept people forbearing such sports as yet by Statute permitted yet Learned men were much divided in their Judgments about the Sabbatarian Doctrines The first that publickly opposed Dr. Bounds Opinions was Mr. Thomas Rogers of Horninger in Suffolk in his Preface to the Book of Articles yet notwithstanding were these Sabbatarian Doctrines published more generally than before The price of the Doctor 's Book began to be doubled as commonly Books are then most called on when called in Yea six years after Bounds book came forth with enlargements publickly sould Now also began some Opinions about Predestination Free-will Perseverance which much troubled the Schools and Pulpit Wherein Archbishop Whitgift caused a solemn meeting of many Learned Divines at Lambeth where besides the Archbishop Richard Bancroft Bishop of London Richard Vaughan Bishop of Bangor Humfrey Tyndal Bishop of Ely Dr. Whitaker Queen's Professor in Cambridge and others were assembled These after a serious debate resolved on the now following Articles Fuâ—â—er Church Hist An. 1595. I. God from eternity hath Predestinated certain men unto life c. II. The moving cause of Predestination unto life is not Faith and good Works foreseen c. but onely the good will and pleasure of God III. There is predetermined a certain number of the predestinate c. IV. Those who are not predestinated to Salvation shall be necessarily damned for their sins V. A true living justifying Faith c. is not extinguished vanisheth not away in the elect either finally or totally VI. A man truly faithful i. e. such a one who is endued with justifying Faith is certain with the full assurance of Faith of the Remission of his sins and of his everlasting Salvation by Christ. VII Saving Grace is not given granted communicated to all men by which they may be saved if they will VIII No man can come unto Christ Vnless it shall be givenll unto him and unless the Father shall draw him And as men are not drawn by the Father that they may come to the Son IX It is not in the will or power of every one to be saved Matthew Hutton Archbishop of York did also fully and freely in his judgement concur with those Divines as appeareth by a Letter of his sent to a most Reverend Prelate Mountague in his Appeal p. 55. 56 71 72. When these Articles came abroad into the World some had an high Opinion of them others valued them at a low rate Some flatly condemned both the Articles and the Authors of them One affirmeth that these Articles were forbidden by publick Authority but when where and by whom he saith nothing Forreign Divines raised or decryed the esteem of these Articles just as they were biassed in judgment Some Printed set forth and cited them as the sence of the Church of England others as fast slighted them as the narrow positions of a few private and partial persons Although those Learned Divines be not acknowledged as competent Judges to pass definitive sentence in those points yet their testimony is an infallible evidence what was the general and received Doctrine of England in that Age about the forenamed Controversies This year died first Dr. William Wickham bred in King's Colledge in Cambridge first Bishop of Lincoln after of Winchester Secondly Worthy Dr. William Whitaker And among the Romanists Daniel Halesworth More infamous was the death of Robert Southwel a Jesuite who was executed for a Traitor at London In the year 1596. died Bishop Fletcher of London who died suddenly and John Coldwel Bishop of Sarisbury About this time also died Doctor Laurence Humfrey a moderate Non-conformist Dean of Winchester and Master of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford Master Baltazar Zanchez a Spaniard born in Estremadura founded an Almes-house at Totnam-Highcross in Middlesex for eight single people allowing them competent maintenance Thomas Stapleton this year ended his life at Lovain he was born at Henfield in Sussex and was a Learned assertor of the Romish Religion This year also died Richard Cosins Doctor of the Law and Dean of Arches one of the greatest Civilians which our Nation hath produced The death of Robert Turner was now much lamented by the Papists He was born at Barstable in Devonshire bred for awhile in Oxford whence flying beyond the Seas he became Canon of Breslaw in Silesia and at the same time Privy Councellor to the Duke of Bavaria Ferdinand of Gratz afterwards Emperor took him from the Duke to be his own Secretary in the Latin Tongue He lieth buried at Gratz under a handsom Monument In the year 1599. died Richard Hooker of whom largely before He was much lamented by Protestants Anno 1600. died two eminent Roman Catholicks John Saunderson born in Lancaster bred in Trinity Colledge in Cambridge from whence he fled to Cambray in Artois The other Thomas Case of St. Johns in Oxford Doctor of Physick always a Papist in heart but never expressing the same till a little before his Death CENTURY XVII THe difference betwixt the Seculars and the Jesuites still continuing and encreasing Bishop Bancroft afforded the Seculars countenance and maintenance in London-house furnishing them with necessaries to write against their Adversaries hoping the Protestants might assault the Romish cause with the greater advantage by the breach made to their hands by the others own dissentions Archbishop Whitgift founded and endowed an Hospital at Croydon in Surrey for a Warden and twenty eight Brethren as also a free School with liberal maintenance for the training up of Youth The
the words Jesus said be Printed in a different Character Mr. Knewstubs took exceptions at the Cross in baptism and said it is questionable whether the Church hath power to institute an outward significant sign The Bishop of London answered The Cross in Baptism is not used otherwise than a Ceremony His Majesty desired to be acquainted about the Antiquity of the use of Cross Dr. Rainolds said it hath been used ever since the Apostles time but the question is how Ancient the use thereof hath been in Baptism The Bishop of Winchester said in Constantine's time it was used in Baptism His Majesty replied it so I see no reason but we may continue it Mr. Knewstubs said put case the Church may add significant signs it may not add them where Christ hath already ordained them which is as Derogatory to Christ's Institution as if one should add to the great Seal of England His Majesty answered the case is not alike seeing the Sacrament is fully finished before the use of the Cross Mr. Knewstubs demanded then how far the Ordinance of the Church bindeth without impeaching Christian Liberty The King answered I will have one Doctrine one Discipline one Religion in substance and in Ceremony Never speak more to that point how far ye are bound to obey Doctor Rainolds wished that the Cross being Superstitiously abused in Popery were abandoned as the Brazen-serpent was stamped to powder by Hezekiah because abused to Idolatry His Majesty answered Inasmuch as the Cross was abused to Superstition in time of Propery it doth plainly imply that it was well used before He said he detested their courses who peremptorily disallow of all things which have been abused in Popery and know not how to answer the Objections of the Papists when they charge us with Novelties but by telling them we retain the Primitive use of things and onely forsake their Novel corruptions Secondly no resemblance between the Brazen-Serpent a material visible thing and the sign of the Cross made in the Air. Thirdly Papists did never ascribe any spiritual grace to the Cross in Baptism Lastly material Crosses to which people fell down in time of Popery as the Idolatrous Jews to the Brazen-serpent are already demolished as you desire Mr. Knewstubs proceeded excepting at the wearing of the Surplice a kind of garment said he used by the Priests of Isis His Majesty answered he did not think till of late it had been borrowed from the Heathen because commonly called a Rag of Popery And seeing we border not upon Heathens c. I see no reason said he but for comeliness sake it may be continued Dr. Rainolds said I take exception at these words in Marriage With my body I thee worship His Majesty answered I find it an usual English Term A Gentleman of Worship and it agreeth with the Scriptures Giving honour to the wife The Dean of Sarum said some take exception at the Ring in Marriage Dr. Rainolds said he approved it well enough Then said he some take exceptions at the Churching of women by the name of Purification His Majesty said I allow it very well Unto Doctor Rainolds his last exception against committing Ecclesiastical censures to Lay-chancellors His Majesty answered that he had conferred with the Bishops about that point and such order should be taken therein as was Convenient Doctor Rainolds desired That according to certain Provinâ—ial Constituions the Clergy may have meetings every three weeks 1. In Rural Deaneries therein to have prophecying as Archbishop Grindal and other Bishops desired of her late Majesty 2. That such things as could not be resolved on there might be referred to the Archdeacons Visitations 3. And so to the Episcopal Synod to determine such points before not decided His Majesty answered If you aim at a Scottish Presbytery it agreeth as well with Monarchy as God and the Devil Then Jack and Tom c. shall meet and censure me and my Council Then the King asked the Doctor whether they had any thing else to say He answered No more if it please your Majesty If this be all your party have to say said the King I will make them conform or else I will harry them out of the Land or do worse Thus ended the second dayes Conference The third began on the Wednesday following many Knights Civilians and Doctors of the Law being admitted thereunto because the High-commission was the principal matter in debate His Majesty thus began I understand that the parties named in the High-commission are too many and too mean and the matters they deal with base such as Ordinaries might censure in their Courts at home Archbishop of Canterbury Were not their number many I should oftentimes sit alone I have often complained of the meanness of matters handled therein but cannot remedy it for though the offence be small that the Ordinary may yet the Offender oft-times is so great that the Ordinary is forced to crave help at the High-commission to punish him A nameless Lord said The proceedings in that Court are like the Spanish Inquisition wherein men are urged to subscribe more than Law requireth and by the Oath Ex officio forced to accuse themselves being examined upon many Articles on a sudden and for the most part against themselves The Lord Chancellor said There is necessity and use of the Oath Ex officio in divers Courts and Causes His Majesty said That it is requisite that fame and scandals be looked unto in Courts Ecclesiastical and yet great moderation is to be used therein And here he soundly deseribed the Oath Ex officio for the ground thereof the wisdom of the Law therein the manner of proceeding thereby and profitable effect from the same After much discourse between the King the Bishops and the Lords about the quality of the Persons and Causes in the High Commission rectifying Excommunications in matters of less moment punishing Recusants providing Divines for Ireland Wales and the Northern borders the four Preachers were called in and such alterations in the Liturgy were read unto them which the Bishops by the King's advice had made unto which by their silence they seemed to consent Then the King said to Doctor Rainolds and his Associates I expect obedience and humility from you the marks of honest and good men and that you would perswade others abroad by your example Doctor Rainolds answered We here do promise to perform â—ll duties to Bishops as Reverend Fathers and to joyn with them against the common Adversary for the peacâ— of the Church Thus ended the three dayeâ— Conference Doctor Sparks soon after set forth a Treatise of Unity and Uniformity This Conference produced some alterations in the Liturgy Womens baptising formerly frequent hereafter forbidden in the Rubrick of Absolution Remission of sins inserted Confirmation termed also an Examination of Children and some words altered in the Dominical Gospels with a resolution for a new translation of the Bible Henceforward many that wavered before for the future
gratitude to his memory and retained his youthful and Poetical studies fresh in his old age Mr. Richard Mountague one of a differing judgement succeeded in his See At the same time the Rich Parsonage of Stanford-rivers in Essex was conferred on Dr. Manwaring as voyd by Bishop Mountague's preferment A Proclamation came forth declaring the King's pleasure for proceedings with Popish Recusants and directions to his Commissioners for making Compositions for two parts of three of their estates which by Law were due to His Majesty Nevertheless for the most part they got off upon easie terms by reason of compositions at undervalues Dr. Barnaby Potter is now made Bishop of Carlile This was seconded with another Proclamation commanding that diligent search be made for all Priests and Jesuites particularly the Bishop of Calcâ—don and others that have taken Orders by Authority from the See of Rome that they be apprehended and committed to the Gaol of that County where they shall be found Smith the titular Bishop of Calcâ—don hereupon conveyed himself over into France where he became a confident of Cardinal Richlieu's This year died Toby Mathew Archbishop of York George Mountain succeeded him but died a few moneths after During the sitting of tâ—e Parliament one Dr Leighton a Scottish man presented a Book unto them exciting the Parliament and people to kill all the Bishops and to smite them under the fifth Rib. He bitterly inveighed against the Queen calling her a Daughter of Heth a Canaanite and Idolatress and Zions plea was the specious title of his Pamphlet for which he was sentenced in the Star-chamber to be whipt and stigmatized to have his ears cropt and nose slit which censure was inflicted on him On August 23. 1628. The Duke of Buckingham was Murthered at Portsmouth by one Lieutenant Felton After the death of the Duke the King highly favoured Dr. Laud Bishop of London to whom he sent many gratious messages Some three years since certain Feoffees were legally setled in trust to purchase in Impropriations with their own and other well-disposed persons money and with their profit to set up and maintain a constant Preaching Ministry in places of greatest need where the word was most wanting The Feoffes were twelve in number diversly qualified Doctors in Divinity William Gouge Richard Sibbs Charles Off-spring John Davenport of Lincolns Inne Ralph Eyre Sa. Brown C. Sherland of Grays Inne John White of the Middle Temple Citizens John Gearing Richard Davis Geo. Harwood Francis Bridges It is incredible what large summs were advanced in a short time toward so laudable a work In March Bishop Davenant preaching his course on a Sunday in Lent at White-hall before the King and Court In his Sermon he was conceived to fall on some forbidden points insomuch that his Majesty manifested much displeasure thereat for which he is convented before the Council where Dr. Harsenet Archbishop of York aggravated his offence His answer was that he had delivered nothing but the received Doctrine of our Church established in the seventeenth Article and that he was ready to justifie the truth of what he had then taught Their answer was the Doctrine was not gain-said but his Highness had given Command these questions should not be debated and therefore he took it more offensively that any should be so bold as in his own hearing to break his Royal Commands Here the Archbishop of York aggravated the offence from many other Circumstances His Reply was onâ—ly this That he never understâ—od that his Majesty had forbid a handling of any Doctrine comprised in the Articles of ouâ— Church but onely raising of new questions or adding of new sense thereunto which he had not done nor ever should do Anâ—o 1630. died Thomas Dove Bishop of Peterborough The Nonconformists complained of his severity in asserting Ecclesiastical discipline He was an aged man being the onely Queen Elizabeth's Bishop that died in the Reign of King Charles Anno 1631. began great discontents to grow in the University of Oxford 〈◊〉 Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1â—31 Many conceived that Innovations defended by others for Renovations and now onely reduced as used in the primitive times were multiplied in Divine Service Whereat offended they in their Sermons brake forth into what was interpreted bitter invectives Dr. Smith Waâ—den of Wadham-colledâ—e convented Mr Thorn of Baliol-colledge and Mr. Foâ—d of Magdalen hall as offenders against the King's Instructions and ordered them to bring in the Copies of their Sermons Bishop Laud procured the cause to be heard before the King at Woodstock and 1. The Preachers complained of were expelled the University 2. The Proctors were deprived of their place for accepting their Appeal 3. Dr. Prideâ—ux and Dr Wilkinson were shâ—ewdly checked for engaging in their behalf The expulsion of these Preachers encreased the Differences in Oxford This year died that eminent Preacher Mr. Arthur Hildersam After he had entred into his Ministry he met with many troubles He was silenced by the High Commission in June Anno 1590. and restored by the High Commission in January 1591. He was silenced by Bishop Châ—derton April 24 1605. restored by Bishop Barlow in January 1608. Silenced by Bishop Neile in November 1611. restored by Dr. Ridley June 20. 1625. Silenced by the Court at Leicester Mar. 4. 1630. restored by the same Court 1631. He was Minister of Ashby de la Zouâ—h forty and three years The same year died Robert Bolton Mâ—nister of Broughton in Northampton-shire an Authoritative Preacher Now a Bill was exhibited in the Exchequer-chamber by Mr. Noy the Attourney-general against the Feoffees for Impropriations It was charged against them that they diverted the Charity wherewith they were intrusted to other uses That they generally preferred Nonconformists to the Lectures of their erection The Court condemned their proceedings as Dangerous to the Church and State pronouncing the Gifts Feoffments and contrivances made to the use aforesaid to be illegal and so dissolved the same confiscating their money to the King's use About this time died Samuel Harsenet Archbishop of York He lies buried at Chigwel Church in Essex where he built a School Now the Sabbatarian controversie began to be revived Theophilus Bradburn a Minister of Suffolk had five years before set forth a book Entitled A defence of the most ancient and Sacred Ordinance of God the Sabbath-day Francis White now Bishop of Ely was employed by his Majesty to confute Mr. Bradburn's erroneous opinion In the writing whereof many strict people were offended at some expressions dropping from his pen. Hereupon many Books were wrote and controversies on this subject were multiplied These were distinguished into three several opinions Sabbatarians Moderate men Anti-sabbatarians In Sommerset-shire some of the Justices were offended at the keeping of Wakes Church-ales c. on the Lord's day which occasioned many disorders to be committed They moved the Lord Chief-justice Richardson and Baron Denham then in their circuit in the Lent-vacation to make some order therein These in
together on April 13. 1640. instead of acting Short view of the life and Reign of King Charles p. 77. any thing for his Majesties service they were at the point of passing a Vote for blasting his War against the Scots To prevent which his Majesty was forced to dissolve them on May 5. the Convocation still continuing who granted him a Benevolence of four shillings in the pound for all their Ecclesiastical promotions to be paid six years together then next ensuing The Convocation sate after the breaking up of the Parliament A new Commission was brought from his Majesty by vertue whereof they were warranted to sit still not in the capacity of a Convocation but of a Synod to prepare their Canons for the Royal assent thereunto But Doctor Brâ—wnrigg Doctor Hacket Doctor Holdsworth Mr. Warmstrey with others to the number of thirty six the whole House consisting of about sixscore protested against the continuance of the Convocation To satisfie these an Instrument was brought into the Synod signed with the hands of the Lord Privy-seal the two chief Justices and other Judges justifying their so sitting in the nature of a Synod to be legal according to the Laws of the Realm Now their disjoynted meeting being set together again they consulted about new Canons I shall set down the number and titles of the several Canons 1. Concerning the Regal power 2. For the better keeping of the day of his Majesties Inauguration 3. For suppressing of the growth of Popery 4. Against Socinianism 5. Against Sectaries 6. An Oath enjoyned for the preventing of all Innovations in Doctrine and Government 7. A Declaration concerning some Rites and Ceremonies 8. Of preaching for Conformity 9. One Book of Articles of enquiry to be used at all Parochial visitations 10. Concerning the Conversation of the Clergy 11. Chancellors Patents 12. Chancellors alone not not to censure any of the Clergy in sundry cases 13. Excommunication and Absolution not to be pronounced but by a Priest 14. Concerning the Commutations and the disposing of them 15. Concerning some Concurrent Jurisdictions 16. Concerning Licenses to marry 17. Against vexatious Citations The Oath it self I shall set down as I find it in the Life of Archbishop Laud written by Doctor Heylin in this form following viz. I A. B. do swear That I do approve the Doctrine and Discipline or Government established in the Church of England as containing all things necessary to salvation And that I will not endeavour by my self or any other directly or indirectly to bring in any Popish doctrine contrary to that which is so established Nor will I ever give my consent to alter the Government of this Church by Archbishops Bishops Deans and Archdeacons c. As it stands now established and as by right it ought to stand nor yet ever subject it to the usurpations and superstitions of the See of Rome And all these things I do plainly and seriously acknowledge and swear according to the plain and common sence and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mental evasion or secret reservation whatsoever And this I do heartily willingly and truly upon the faith of a Christian So help me God in Jesus Christ Toward the close of the Convocation Doctor Griffith made a motion that there might be a new Edition of the Welsh Church-bible some sixty years first translated into Welsh by the endeavours of Bishop Morgan but not without many mistakes and omissions of the Printer The matter was committed to the care of the Welsh Bishops but nothing was effected therein Near the ending of the Synod Godfrey Goodman Bishop of Glocester privately acquainted the Archbishop of Canterbury that he could not in his Conscience subscribe the new Canons The Archbishop being present with the Synod in King Henry the Seventh his Chappel said unto him My Lord of Glocester I admonish you to subscribe and presently after My Lord of Glocester I admonish you the second time to subscribe and immediately after I admonish you to subscribe To all which the Bishop pleaded Conscience and returned a denial Some dayes after he was committed to the Gaâ—e-house Soon after the same Canons were subscribed at York and on the last of June following the said Canons were publickly printed with the Royal assent affixed thereunto Various were mens censures upon these Canons But most took exception Fuller Church History ad An. 1640. against that clause in the Oath We will never give any consent to alter this Church-governmet as if the same were intended to abridge the liberty of King and State in future Parliaments and Convocations if hereafter they saw cause to change any thing therein Yet others with a favourable sence endeavoured to qualifie this suspitious clause whereby the taker of this Oath was tied up from consenting to any alteration saying that these words We will never give any consent to alter are intended here to be meant only of a voluntary and pragmatical alteration when men conspire and endeavour to change the present Government of the Church in such particulars as they do dislike without the consent of their Superiors Bishop Goodman on July the tenth made acknowledgment of his fault before the Lords of the Council and took the Oath enjoyned in the sixth Canon for preserving the Doctrines and Discipline of the Church of England against all Popish doctrines which were thereunto repugnant Upon the doing whereof he was restored by his Majesty to his former liberty Yet in the time of his last sickness it is said that he declared himself to be a Member of the Church of Rome and caused it so to be expressed in his last Will and Testament On December 27. 1639. at night and the night following there was such a violent Tempest that many of the Boats which were drawn to Land at Lambeth were dashed one against the other and were broke to pieces and that the shafts of two Chimneys were blown down upon Hâ—ylin's Hist of Archbishop Laud. ad â—n 1640. the roof of the Archbishop's Chamber and beat down both the Lead and Rafters upon his Bed in which ruine he must needs have perished if the roughness of the Water had not forced him to keep his Chamber at White-hall A like mischance happened the same night at Croydon a retiring place belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury where one of the Pinacles fell from the Steeple beat down the Lead and Roof of the Church above twenty foot square But that which was more remarkable than either of these was that which happened the same night at Canterbury in the Metropolitical Church where one of the Pinacles upon the top of the Belfrey-Tower which carried a Vane with this Archbishop's Arms upon it was violently struck down but born a good distance from the Steeple to fall upon the Roof of the Cloyster where the Armes of the Archiepiscopal See it self were ingraven in Stone which Armes being broke to pieces by the fall of the other
and Intent of their Convention namely to consult with the Parliament for the setling of Religion and Church-government Of an hundred twenty elected but sixty nine appeared And of the first of Royalists Episcopal in their judgements very few appeared and scarce any continued any time in the House save Doctor Daniel Feately alledging privately several reasons for their departure Dr. Twisse is now chosen Prolocutor and Mr. Henry Robrough and Mr. Adoniram Bifield their Scribes and Notaries And now their good success next to the Parliament's is publickly prayd for by the Preachers in the City and Books dedicated unto them under the Title of the most Sacred Assembly and four shillings a day sallary was allowed them and the Chamber of Jerusalem the fairest in the Deans lodgings where King Henry the Fourth died was the place where these Divines did daily meet together His Majesty looks on this as a strange and unparallell'd encrâ—atchment on his Royal Prerogative to which alone the calling of such Assemblies did belong by the Laws of the Realm And thereupon by his Proclamation of June 22 1643. being just ten days after the date of the Ordinance by which the Assembly was indicted He inhibits all and Bibl. Regia p. 331. every person named in that Ordinance under several pains from assembling together for the end and purpose therein set down declaring the Assembly to be illegal and that the Acts thereof ought not to be received by any of his good Subjects as binding them or of any Authority with them Which Prohibition notwithstanding most of the Members authorized by that Ordinance assembled as was before declared One of the first publick Acts which they performed was the humble presenting of a petition to both Houses for the appointing of a solemn Fast to be generally observed And presently a Fast is appointed and accordingly kept on the following Friday Master Bowles and Master Newcomen whose Sermons were after Printed Preaching on the same The King summons the Lords and Commons to Oxford to attend there on January 22. then next following Being come scarce were they setled in their several Houses when they were entertained with an hot Alarum made by the coming in of the Scots with a puissant Army The Scots had thrived so well by the former service as made them not unwilling to come under the pay of such bountiful Masters And knowing well in what necessity their dear Brethren in England stood of their assistance they were resolved to husband that necessity to their best advantage The English must first enter into Covenant with them for conforming of this Church with that c. In the first branch of it it was to be Covenanted between the Nations That all endeavours should be used for the preservation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland both in Doctrine Discipline and Government Directory for worship and Catechizing And in the second That in like manner they endeavour without any respect of persons the extirpation of Popery Prelacy that is Church Government by Archbishops Bishops their Chancellors and Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Archdeacons and all other Ecclesiastical Officers depending on that Hierarchy c. But by whomsoever it was framed his Majesty saw that it aimed at the subversion of the present Government Therefore looking on it as a dangerous combination against himself the established Religion and the Laws of this Kingdom for the bringing in of Forreign Forces to subvert them all saith Doctor Heylin interdicted all his Subjects from imposing or taking the same as they would answer the contrary at their peâ—ils Which Proclamation bearing date on October 9. came out too late to hinder the taking and enjoying of this Covenant where the restraint thereof had been most necessary for it had been solemnly taken by all the Members of the House of Commons and the Assembly of Divines at St. Margarets in Westminster on September 25. and within two days after it was Administred with no less solemnity to divers Lords Knights Gentlemen Colonels Officers Souldiers and others residing in and about the City of London a Sermon being Preached by Mr. Coleman to justifie the piety and legality of it and finally enjoyned to be taken on the Sanday following in all Churches and Chappels of London within the lines of Communication as afterwards by all the Kingdom in convenient time No sooner was this Covenant taken but to let the Scots see that they were in earnest a further impeachment consisting of ten Articles were prepared against the Archbishop of Canterbury In the Assembly of Divines some concurred not with the major part and were therefore stiled Dissenting Brethren These men crave a Toleration to be indulged them who since their return out of the Low-countries had fallen upon gathering of Congregations in or about the City of London and they excused for being concluded by the votes of the Assembly But the Presbyterians highly opposed their Toleration they tax the dissenting Brethren for Singularity and some moved their ejection out of the Assembly except in some convenient time they would comply therewith The Dissenters seasonably presented an Apologetical Narrative to the Parliament stiled by them The most sacred refuge or Asylum for mistaken and misjudged innocence Herein they petitioned pathetically for some favour whose conscience could not joyn with the Assembly in all particulars concluding with that pityful close That they pursued no other Interest or design but a subsistence be it the poorest and meanest in their own land as not knowing where else with safety health and livelyhood to set their feet on earth and subscribed their names Thomas Goodwin Philip Nye Sidrach Symson Jeremiah Burroughs William Bridge These Petitioners found such favour with some potent persons in Parliament that they were secured from farther Trouble and afterwards grew able not onely to encounter but invade all opposers yea to open and shut the door of preferment to others Dr. William Twisse their Prolocutor died and Mr. Charles Herle Fellow of Exeter-colledge succeeded him in his place The Assembly met with many difficulties some complained that Mr. Selden that Great Antiquary advantaged by his skill in Antiquity and the Oriental Tongues studied rather to perplex than inform the Members thereof as appeared by the fourteen Queries he propounded whose intent was to give a check to the design of those who held Presbytery to be Jure Divino More trouble was caused to the Assembly by the opinions of the Erastians And divers Parliament men hearing their own power enlarged thereby made use of the Erastians for a check to such who pressed Conformity to the Scotch Kirk in all particulars Indeed the Major part of the Assembly endeavoured the setling the Scotch Government in all particulars and this was laboured by the Scotch Commissioners with all Industry and probable means to obtein the same But it could not be effected nor was it ever setled by Act of Parliament who kept the coercive power in their own hands